Victory in Vienna

Germans edge close encounter with Austria

Created on 12-09-2012 at 00:00 AM

Philipp Lahm, Manuel Neuer and three more FCB team-mates helped Germany to a second win in their second 2014 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, although the 2-1 victory over neighbouring Austria, cementing Germany’s lead at the top of Group C, was a close-run thing for Joachim Löw’s off-colour side.

The 47,000 crowd at Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna saw the aggressive home team push their more illustrious visitors all the way to the final whistle. Marco Reus (44) and Mesut Özil (52, pen) gave Löw’s men a 2-0 lead, but the Austrians pulled one back on 57 minutes through Zlatko Junuzovic, and were guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance at the end as Lahm and Co clung on for a fortunate win.